CENTERBURG — Despite last week’s storm, the Oldtime Farming Festival ended its weekend event with a variety of music, food, arts and crafts, petting zoo and tractor display, and much more.

Overall the crowd seemed a little smaller than what organizers had experienced in previous years, explained Bob Newton Jr., president of the Oldtime Farming Festival, yet other areas of the festival have increased like the participation from vendors and demonstrations.

“This year we were concerned about the economy, but it was mystifying because we had some things that were down and other things that were up that have never been before,” said Newton. “But it seems like we grow each year a little bit more and more, and I think it’s safe to say that we are still growing.”

Another concern was the weather, after last week’s storm, many people were unsure of the safety of the park or if necessary repairs would be done in time.

“The weather was a big factor. We were scared that early on because we had no electric, but we had electric come in on Wednesday, save the day,” he said.

The sunny weekend was a contradiction to the damage of last week’s storm, and no visitor would have suspected anything amiss.

“Overall the community just looks so forward to [the festival] and pitches in to help. When we had that storm this past week there were people down here we never even knew, cleaning up the park getting ready for us ... that was a real touching event,” he said.

Members and volunteers play a major role in operation of the festival.

“Our members and volunteers know what to do to when the time comes. It goes together and that is what makes it happen,” said Newton.

The festival has been going on since 1991 and has been through many changes, but one thing that has never changed is the community support.

“It was somewhat a hard road in the very beginning, but I think we are over the hump. People enjoy it. It is a free, fun, family festival,” he said.

Art and craft tables lined the park with a diverse sale of homemade goods, handcrafted toys and ornaments, jewelry, farm toys, and specialty T-shirts.

“There is something here for everyone,” said Newton. “We try to accommodate for the kids, the ladies, the men. We have all kinds of entertainment, a wide variety of crafts, demonstrations especially from old up to new.”

The festival had an eclectic variety of entertainment from bluegrass to gospel, and demonstrations of horticulture as well as local organizations.

“The Knox County Horse Park came to volunteer to park the cars so as soon as you pull in there is an atmosphere of old times, and they’re on horseback and they are directing the traffic,” said Newton.

A highlight of the festival is the tractor display that shows a time line of technological advancement of farm equipment.

“We always have an average of 200 tractors on display and all kinds of engines,” he said. “We try to maintain the theme of ‘oldtime.’ We try to relate back to how it was and where we started from. It is interesting for the younger generation to come and actually see where their forefathers started from.”

With Centerburg being in such a central location, the festival provides a taste for country life for interested visitors.

“We are always looking for new ideas that could fit with the theme,” said Newton.

The festival not only involves farming themes but educational experiences for all guests. The Hess Family Pets exhibited non-typical farming creatures. Farms don’t usually house scorpions, tarantulas, hedge hogs, pythons, hissing beetles or turtles, but at the festival these exotic creatures were on display for visitors to get to know.

“Kids love it, families love it,” said Kelly Hess of Marengo, who was assisting her uncle, Steve Hess, with the animals.

The response from the community often varies with the creatures but most people find their courage, explained Hess. “People who don’t feel brave find out they are brave.”

The Hess family has been coming to the festival for three years. They do it to educate people about the diversity of animals, she said.

Eight-year-old Amelia Smith of Centerburg, held a Rose Hair Tarantula gently petting its legs. “No, I’m not afraid. I like it,” she said.